The short version
- Vurt has launched dedicated TV apps for Apple TV and Android TV to host its vertical microdramas.
Vurt brings vertical video on TV with 3,500 microdrama episodes
A startup that builds vertical-microdrama series is bringing its catalog to Apple TV and Android TV, hoping viewers keep watching on bigger screens.
Quick read · 1 min
Vurt is expanding beyond phones by launching TV apps for Apple TV and Android TV, bringing about 3,500 episodes across 100+ shows to big screens. The move follows a push by other platforms into vertical video, but Vurt keeps its content focused on melodramatic microdramas produced with real crews. The apps aim to boost watch time on TVs by offering a mobile-friendly format that fits larger screens.
Why it matters for you: you can watch vertical content on a living room TV for free, with ads, and creators still get paid. What happens next: Vurt is likely to experiment with more live formats and original vertical shows, and you can try the TV apps if you own an Apple TV or Android TV.
Vurt is taking vertical video beyond smartphones and tablets. The startup quietly rolled out dedicated apps for Apple TV and Android TV, giving users access to about 3,500 episodes across more than 100 shows. The move follows a pattern where big platforms try to unseat viewers from phone screens by expanding into bigger televisions.
Since its public launch in March, Vurt has grown its user base to roughly 675,000 from about 10,000. The company’s model leans on licensing agreements with studios and creators, offering a 50/50 revenue split and a free-to-finish approach for viewers, rather than a barrage of microtransactions or paid tiers. Creators can submit projects for distribution, and once approved, episodes can appear on the platform within days.
Vurt’s cofounder and investor Hilmon Sorey described the TV push as a response to user feedback. People wanted a way to beam vertical clips they already watch on phones onto larger screens, but Sorey says the experience can be better on TVs thanks to native TV tech like higher-resolution video and better audio. The plan is to keep vertical storytelling distinct from traditional horizontal TV formats, while exploring new programming such as original series and livestreamed events.
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What this means for viewers right now
For everyday viewers, the key takeaway is simple: you can watch vertical microdramas on a living room screen just like you would watch traditional TV shows. The content remains free to watch, supported by advertisements, with creators paid through licensing revenue rather than upfront purchases or subscriptions.
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Why vertical videos are getting a TV push
The broader industry is chasing a trend where audiences increasingly consume short, vertical clips on phones. By moving to TVs, Vurt aims to keep viewers in its ecosystem longer and reduce the friction of switching away from its content to other apps. The company argues that vertical formats can be just as engaging on a big screen when they’re designed for that perspective, short, cliffhanger-driven episodes that bring viewers back for the next installment.
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Which devices and content are included
Vurt’s TV apps are available on Apple TV and Android TV platforms. The catalog includes more than 100 shows and thousands of episodes, most of which are produced with human crews rather than AI-generated content. The emphasis remains on melodramatic microdramas, which Vurt argues are a distinct flavor of storytelling shaped for vertical viewing.
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What this means for creators
Creators can submit their vertical projects for distribution, and the platform pledges a 50/50 revenue split with licensing. That approach is designed to be fair to makers who want to reach audiences beyond mobile devices, while letting viewers watch for free with ads.
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What happens next
Vurt’s next moves are likely to center on expanding its TV presence, possibly exploring original vertical content and more live formats. For viewers, the practical next step is easy: if you have an Apple TV or Android TV device, you can open the Vurt app and start browsing the existing catalog on your big screen.
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Quick answers
Will this replace horizontal TV shows?
No. Vurt is adding another option for vertical content, complementing traditional formats rather than replacing them.
Is this free to watch on TVs?
Yes, the catalog in the TV apps is free to watch with ads, funded by partnerships rather than a subscription model.
- Vurt on Apple TV
- Vurt on Android TV
- Vertical microdramas catalog
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